Paul Menard to Drive Al Unser Jr.-Inspired 1993 'Throwback' Paint Scheme in Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington
Menard's No. 27 Chevrolet SS to mimic "Little Al's" first, only and ultimately unfinished stock car race
LEXINGTON, Ky., July 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Valvoline™ – the petroleum industry's first U.S. trademarked motor oil brand now celebrating its 150th anniversary – together with Menards® home improvement stores today unveiled their "throwback" Darlington paint scheme for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) driver, Paul Menard.
The Valvoline hood-branded and Menards No. 27 Chevrolet co-primary will pay homage to IndyCar legend Al "Little Al" Unser Jr.'s first and only stock car race of his celebrated career – and one which he, in the end, was prevented from finishing.
"I am a lifelong Unser fan, so for me, this paint scheme – and what it represents – means more than most fans might realize," said Menard. "I'm ready to get out there and finish what he started."
In 1993, Unser aligned with Valvoline to make his Sprint Cup debut at the Daytona 500. His single car paint scheme gave a nod to Valvoline's synthetic oil, which at that time was packaged in a black, orange and white bottle. Menard's Darlington paint scheme will mimic this specific car concept, which never saw the Daytona 500 track due to a wreck in preliminaries.
"There are so many distinct strands of the racing world woven together in the context of this paint scheme," said Valvoline Vice President of Marketing, Jamal Muashsher. "We look forward to watching Paul as he symbolically provides Little Al with another moment on the stock car stage."
Valvoline first announced its alignment with Menards home improvement stores and Paul Menard in February. As part of the partnership, Valvoline pledged support as co-primary, hood branding sponsor of four 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and was presenting sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Menards® 250 held in June.
In honor of the upcoming Darlington "throwback" paint scheme, a video featuring Menard and Unser will soon be featured on TeamValvoline.com as part of Valvoline's LEGACY video series, designed specifically to tell the story of the brand's motorsports history, commitment to excellence and dedication to developing cutting-edge motor oil.
Additionally, a limited-edition die cast replica of Menard's No. 27 Darlington throwback car will be available in Menards stores beginning September 3, coinciding with the Bojangles' Southern 500 race weekend.
Visit TeamValvoline.com page for updates, auto-related content, videos and more – or follow the brand's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for up-to-date information.
ABOUT VALVOLINE™:
Valvoline is a leading worldwide producer and distributor of premium-branded automotive, commercial and industrial lubricants, and automotive chemicals. It ranks as the #2 quick-lube chain and #3 passenger car motor oil brand in the United States. The brand operates and franchises nearly 1,050 Valvoline Instant Oil ChangeSM centers in the United States. It also markets ValvolineTM lubricants and automotive chemicals; MaxLifeTM lubricants created for higher-mileage engines, SynPowerTM synthetic motor oil; and ZerexTM antifreeze. Key customers include: retail auto parts stores and mass merchandisers who sell to consumers; installers, such as car dealers, repair shops and quick lubes; commercial fleets; and distributors. For more information, please visit Valvoline.com.
ABOUT MENARDS:
With 300 stores in 14 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether you just need a light bulb or a can of paint to building a deck or new home. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the place to Save BIG Money! Menards does things right - the company's strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.
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Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Car-Wrap-Final-7-26-16.mp4
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SOURCE Valvoline
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